Hinge for refrigerating cabinets



June 3, 1941. H. H. WARD ET AL 2,244,275

HINGE FOR REFRIGERATING CABINETS Filed May 6, 1939 INVENTOR. #05 H, ik'za BY A ORNEY.

Patented June 3, 1941 HINGE FOR REFIUIGERA'DING OAEBINEI'S Hugh H. Ward, Chester, and Samuel B. Ward, Chester Heights, Pa.

Application May 6, 1939, Serial No. '27.,2,264

1 Claim.

This invention has to do with hinge constructions designed to shed water and which are commonly employed in conjunction with refrigerating cabinets.

At the present time refrigerating cabinets such as those employed in conjunction with the commercial dispensing of ice cream and similar frozen products ordinarily include covers which close the opening through which the products are passed as they are sold. Until a comparatively recent time it has been the conventional practice for these openings to be circular and the covers of a corresponding formation, and completely removable from the openings. However, a comparatively modern development in this art has been the change to a rectangular or square shaped opening, with a correspondingly shaped cover, and which cover is hingeclly mounted along one side thereof.

Due to :the fact that refrigerating cabinets require good insulation against heat it has been the universal practice for the covers to fit down into the openings which they close, much in the manher of a plug. Thus when a hinge is employed in the mounting of the cover, the obviously convenient and practical mode of assembling the hinge so that .the parts will operate in the required manner, is to fasten one leaf of the hinge to one side of the cover, while the other leaf of the hinge is fastened 'toone of the side walls defining the opening which is closed by the particular cover. With this arrangement the hinge pintle, and structure housing the same, is disposed just above the t-op surface of the cover.

In closed position the hinge leaves are in substantial engagement and are spread apart as the cover is raised.

The use of hinged covers of the character above noted, in refrigerating cabinets that are utilized around soda fountains, and similar places for receiving the ice cream that is to be commercially dispensed, has generally been attended by an undesirable factor that in many instances constitutes a nuisance of a high degree. This factor is intimately tied up with the now-known construction of the hinges.

Ordinarily each hinge leaf is formed with a plurality of spaced tongues that are curled over to define the opening which receives the hinge pintle, and another leaf is formed with a corresponding tongue arrangement that is complemental to the tongue construction on the first leaf. While a fairly effective seal against moisture entering the cabinet may be afi'orded when the cover is in closed position, the opening of the cover causes any water or moisture which may have collected thereon to run down to the hinge and enter the spaces or interstices bet-ween the tongues and the leaves. This water entering the interior of the cabinet has a grave tendency to spoil the ice cream or other contents thereof.

The collection of water on the cover is a factor inevitably tied up with the refrigerating cabinets. The low temperatures which are attained by the cabinets cause condensation of moisture in the air to collect thereon, and this is true regardless of the particular place or location where the cabinet is used. However, the liability from the water of condensation is increased when the cabinets are used in the conventional manner around soda fountains, as there is strong likelihood that water, syrups and other liquid materials employed about a soda fountain may spill and collect on the covers.

With the foregoing conditions in mind this invention has in view, as its foremost objective, the provision of a hinge construction of novel type which is designed primarily for use in mounting the covers of refrigerating cabinets, and which hinge is effective to create a moisture-proof seal across the interstices between the hinge tongues as the cover is raised from its flat closed position.

More in detail this invention has in view, as an object, the provision of an arrangement in which substantially the same hinge construction above outlined, which has previously been employed, is availed of, but which construction is supplemented by sealing means which are associated with each hinge leaf, and which provide seals for the spaces or interstices between the hinge tongues.

In carrying out the above noted objects the invention has in mind an arrangement wherein a strip of material is associated with each hinge leaf and is formed with a curved lip that extends partially over the tongue construction of the hinge for the entire length thereof. When the cover is in its fiat, closed position the lips on the two strips extend up over the tongue con struction on each side. However, the extent of the lips about the tongue construction is only partial so as to permit of the normal swinging movement of the cover. As the cover is raised the lip moves over the tongues of the leaf, thus at all times presenting an effective seal against moisture.

Ordinarily ice cream cabinets of the type with which this invention is intended primarily for use include openings at the top which are of an oblong, rectangular shape, and this opening is generally closed by a pair of twin covers that are hinged together. Generally speaking it is desirable to obtain access to only a part of the cabinet at a time, so that when the opening of one cover is required it is desirable that the other remain in closed position. Thus it is the practice to hingedly mount the covers together.

The present invention is particularly adapted for such an arrangement in that the lip construction provided by the strips renders it immaterial which cover is raised, as the same sealing effects are still provided.

Various other more detailed objects and ad-' vantages of the invention will in part become apparent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention, therefore, comprises a hinge assembly designed for use with refrigerating cabinets, and which hinge assembly consists of a pair of hinge leaves each of which is formed at its edge with a curved tongue construction that interfits with the corresponding curved tongue construction of the adjacent leaf to define a passageway for the hinge pintle. Associated with each hinge leaf is a strip of material that presents a curved lip that extends partially over the tongue construction and across the full length of the hinge.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side view of a pair of covers of a refrigerating cabinet which are connected by a hinge assembly in accordance with the precepts of this invention,

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of one of the covers with one hinge leaf and associated sealing strip assembled therewith,

Figure 3 is a view developing a hinge leaf and its sealing strip in a spaced, exploded relationship, and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the relative positions of the parts when the covers are in an open position.

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, a pair of covers which ordinarily are included in such refrigerating cabinets as ice cream cabinets are shown in Figure l and identified by the reference characters A and B.

These covers A and B ordinarily are of duplicate construction, and each of them is of substantially rectangular or square shape, which presents an edge surface at IE! on the cover A which corresponds with a similar edge surface II on the cover B. Each of the covers A and B ordinarily include a handle at I2 which is employed for raising the covers.

Following conventional practice in this field, the covers A and B are hingedly connected together at the meeting surfaces I and II. To accomplish this result the improved hinge assembly of this invention is employed. The hinge assembly comprises a pair of hinge leaves I3 and Hi, the leaf I3 being mounted 0Y1 the cover A as by the screw fastening elements shown at I5, while the leaf I4 is mounted on the cover B by similar fastening elements I5.

Each of the leaves I3 and I4 is formed with a plurality of curled-over tongues I6, the latter being spaced apart to render the tongue construction complemental to the tongue construction on the other leaf. Thus when the curled-over tongues I6 on the leaf I3 are interfitted between the curled-over tongues I6 on the other leaf I4, they together define a passageway I! through which passes a hinge pintle I8.

Interposed between the leaf I3 and the cover A is a sealing strip I9 having an upper lip 20 that is curved so that it extends partially over the assembled curled tongues I6. Similarly another sealing strip 2| is interposed between the leaf I4 and the cover B, and the upper edge thereof takes the form of a curved lip 22. These sealing strips I9 and 2| are formed with openings through which the fastening elements I5 pass, such an opening being shown at 23 in Figure 3, and the strips are obviously held in position by the anchorage of the leaves I 3 and I4 to the cover B.

With the covers A and B in closed position it is evident that the lips 20 and 22 extend up over the tongue constructions I6 a sufficient distance to insure against any moisture, liquid or water passing through the interstices between the tongues. Moreover, as either of the covers A or B is raised the lip which is carried thereby will move with the hinge leaf and always remain in the required sealing position. Thus any liquid or moisture which might run down the cover as an incident to the inclination thereof will be prevented from passing through the interstices between the hinged tongues by the lip on the respective cover.

Inasmuch as the hinge leaves I3 and I4 are ordinarily made of metal, it is desirable that the sealing strips I9 and 2| also be of metal as they are readily fashioned by metal stamping operations. However, any suitable material could of coruse be employed in the manufacture of the strips I9 and 2|.

While a preferred specific embodiment of, the invention is hereinbefore set forth it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claim.

We claim:

A hinge assembly comprising a pair of hinge leaves, each hinge leaf being formed with curledover tongues that are complemental to and interfitted between the curled-over tongues on the other leaf, said curled-over tongues together defining a passageway, a hinge pintle in said passageway, and a sealing strip associated with each hinge leaf, each sealing strip having a curved flange with a free edge that is spaced below the top of the curled-over tongues, the fianges of said sealing strips being in sliding engagement with the cru'led-over tongues and bridging the interstices therebetween.

HUGH H. WARD. SAMUEL B. WARD. 

